“Are we still good to move Bailey’s stuff tomorrow afternoon?” I asked. “She doesn’t have a ton, so it’ll be pretty quick. Mostly it’s the dresser, bed, and desk.”

“Yeah. Around three or four or so? I’m taking Shiv to meet my parents for dinner at seven.” He zipped up his jeans and paused. “Though I guess I could shower at the girls’ place.”

Then they’d probably never make it to dinner. We had our own bathrooms at home, luckily, but that didn’t save me from the TMI knowledge that Shiv and Ward had a thing for shower sex. Unfortunately, while marble floor-to-ceiling tiles were nice to look at, the acoustics meant that sounds echoed. A lot.

“What’s this, now? Shiv is meeting Maggie and Stewart?” I let out a low whistle. “Big step.”

Dallas’s parents were awesome. His dad was a typical old-school litigator, senior partner at one of the big four firms and a total dick in the courtroom. Chillest guy ever in his personal life, though. As long as you didn’t fuck with him. There were very few people who actually scared me, but Stewart Ward was at the top of that list.

And Dallas’s mom was the warm, motherly type who fussed over everyone. She was a bit of a trophy wife—he definitely got his looks from her; not his dad. Maggie always flirted with me too. Not in a creepy way, but in good fun. Drove Dallas crazy, which was extra hilarious.

“’Bout time, right?” he asked. “We’re going to Allegro.”

“Fancy.”

That bill would clock in at five hundred dollars, easy. But that was the equivalent of a Chipotle bill for them.

“They’re paying. Might as well milk it while I still can.” Dallas shrugged.

“Yeah, once you make the league, they might actually make you pay your own rent.”

His lips curled into a wry smile. “Like you pay market rent, jackass.”

That was true. Our living arrangements were heavily subsidized by the Bank of Stewart Ward. I could easily afford to pay more, but his parents insisted on something “more reasonable for a student.” I tried arguing with them, but they wouldn’t hear it.

“I would if they’d let me,” I said. “I can’t help it if your parents have a soft spot for yours truly.”

“They haven’t gotten to know you well enough yet.” Dallas pulled his navy long-sleeved T-shirt over his head.

Except I’d spent the majority of the last four summers at their beachfront cottage. Ward was an only child, so I was the closest thing he had to a brother.

“You’re jealous because they like me better.” I tugged my black hoodie on and straightened it.

“If that were actually true,” Dallas said, “I’d go ahead and disown myself for being such an embarrassment.”

I glanced up from buckling my belt and grinned. “Love you too, man.”